Juliana

38. Code red material

Note for editing- Introduce Gabby earlier... Robbie has a wondering eye sorta but not really. Have tensions build in Robbie/Juliana's relationship. She's insecure about Gabby's friendship with Robbie and that's just more fuel for the fire in the "straw" fight.

My eyes tried to fight the urge to open, but the sun peeking through the edge of my curtains won eventually. I grumbled to myself and went downstairs.

"Mooooom," I yelled out because I didn't see her in the den or kitchen.

"She's working on the pool with Dad." Tyla said, walking up from the basement. "By the way, Mom said that you could drive me over to Haley's."

"What?" I shook my head. "Make me some food for your payment."

"Robbie." My lil sis crossed her arms and stared at me. "No. Mom made some toast earlier... take some of that, and let's go."

"Sheesh." I walked into the kitchen, snatched some toast off the counter, and then grabbed my car keys. I really hated being the oldest sometimes. If Mom or Dad couldn't drive one of the sibs somewhere, guess who got to do it? Yup. Me. And it sucked big time.

Tyla plopped down into the seat next to me and immediately went for the radio. I swatted her hand away. This was my truck. Therefore, I got to control the radio.

She went for it again. I pushed her hand away again.

When she went for it a third time, I about lost my cool. "Just. Don't touch my radio. I need it for yeah, I just need it."

"Ohhhhh. I see how it is... Somebody wants to control the radio because he needs to listen to some Kasey Montgomery and just all country music ever to get over Juliana and their breakup."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and put my tough guy image back on. "Shut up if you want a ride to Haley's."

"You are awful."

"Not the first time I've heard that."

"Sam's the nicer brother."

"Not the first time I've heard that either."

We drove in silence for a good amount of time before Tyla let out a squeal. It almost made me wreck.

"What the hell?" I asked, correcting the wheel.

"Zach Canova, only the hottest guy in the entire school, just asked me out to the Eighth Grade Spring Formal!!!" She squealed again. This time it was even higher.

"But you're in seventh grade..."

"No. Robbie. You don't understand. Zach Canova just totally asked me to be his date."

"Ty, you're in seventh grade..." My baby sis was not old enough to date yet. No way. Not as long as I was around at least...

"Doesn't matter." She squealed again. This was now at the point of starting to annoy me more than a little bit. "Eighth graders can ask other grade levels as their dates, but only eighth graders can buy the tickets. And Zach Canova just asked me!" She fanned herself.

"I don't like that. Canova is awfully close to Casanova. That'll be his name in my book."

"You're ridiculous." She rolled her eyes. "I gotta call Haley. Just OMG. I can't even right now."

"Dude. We're gonna be at her house in less than five minutes!"

"You don't understand, Robbie. This is such Code Red material. I need to talk to the best friend ASAP."

"You're such a girl."

"Thanks for telling me. I've been a little bit confused." She rolled her eyes.

"No prob, Sis." I said as I pulled in Haley's driveway. "Now, get out."

She got out, and I made sure she made it in the front door. Haley greeted her at the door and eagerly waved to me. I guessed she was thanking me or something.

I decided to check my phone before getting back on the road again. There was a text from Gabby. She had sent it at 2:09 this morning.

Gabby: We need to talk.

My eyebrows scrunched down. I was a little bit confused. What did we need to talk about? Did Gabby want us to be official? Had I messed it up with her too somwhow? I sighed and texted her back.

Me: k. meet you at the waffle house at the corner of third and main in ten.

*15 MINUTES LATER*

Gabby and I grabbed a booth in the back and put our food order in. Once the waitress had walked away, Gabby immediately started talking.

"So, Robbie," She started, "I'm just going to start this off with saying I'm sorry. I've been so terrible to you and not honest with you at all. And I just thought that before this went too far that I should tell you that.."

"That what, Gab?" I looked at her concerned. There were a lot of different things running through my head. Was she with someone already? Was she using me to get to my brother?"

"That... that..." She gulped. "Kylie put me up to this. She paid me to get with you and act like we had something."

I sat there in complete and utter disbelief. "How could you?" I shook my head.

"Robbie, I swear." She started to cry. "I feel so terrible. It was wrong. I know it was wrong, and I did it anyways. I am so sorry. It's been eating me from the inside out for a long while now."

"Why though?"

"I don't know. It was a good amount of money, and I just let greed take over my life. I like you a lot though, Robbie. At first, I'll admit, I was kinda forcing the feelings, but now, they are alive and real and not forced and totally present."

"I'm... not sure what to say, Gabby. I'm conflicted. Kinda ticked off. Kinda confused. Kinda... I dunno."

"Yeah." She took a deep breath. "I can understand that."

"I'm not that hungry, so I'm just gonna.. ya know... leave. I'll just.. ya. Bye, Gabby."

I walked out of the Waffle House and hopped in my truck. I really was an idiot. I could not have felt anymore foolish than I did right now. What kind of mess had I gotten myself into?

I turned the truck on and backed out of my parking space. I wanted to go for a drive and just talk to the man upstairs. He was gonna get an earful too 'cause I had a lot to say. I didn't know where I was gonna drive to, but I started driving anyways. And then I started talking.

"Hey, Jesus, ya there? Good. 'Cause I need a listening ear. I wanna know why all this is happening to me. I don't like it. I want Juliana back. I want Kylie out of my life forever. Help me out. I understand if you're trying to teach me a lesson, but can you maybe lay off just a little bit?" I continued to blab while I drove.

I drove until I was by the lake. The one where my dad always took me, and I just parked my truck, got out, and went for a walk.

I was sitting on the public dock when I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I took it out to see I had gotten a message from Juliana.

Juliana: Hey, Robbie. It's Juliana. :)

I smiled. That was really cool. Thanks, Jesus. I didn't hesitate to reply.

Me: hey jules... :)